Author: Alo White

It was a beautiful calm day as me and my son Nathan headed out on the lake, we were in a fishing tournament on Lake of the Woods. Our first tournament together. After 50 years of being on the lake and guiding for 30 years I am a careful boater.

I remember my parents taking me to the ceremonies. They always took place at “Naytonggong” (the original place name for “the point”). I recall one time a medicine man had arrived from another community by boat to do the “jiiskaan” (shaking tent).

As a young boy growing up on the reserve, we were poor. We had no running water, or fridge and stove, no electricity and cheaply built houses. In the winter time we couldn’t sleep close to the walls as frost came right through. Our house was typical of other houses back then.

One thing I know is that our strength as Indigenous peoples comes from connection to our spirituality and our connection to the land and to the waters. The spirit world communicates with us in many ways, including through dreams. Last night

Author Info

Alo White (Mide Kiwenzie/Bizhew Dodem/Naanan Mide) is respected for his knowledge of Anishinaabe language culture, songs & spiritual ceremonies he carries from his community of Naotkamegwanning First Nation (Treaty 3) in Northwestern Ontario. He is currently working on a series of recordings under his label Alo White Recording Studios, recording Elders from the Treaty 3 area under the project titled “Preserving Anishinaabe Music.”